Jonathan David opened the scoring for Lille before Marquinhos leveled the score and then Angel Di Maria scored an 88th minute winner for PSG.
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Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Lille 2-1 in the Ligue 1 fixture at Parc des Princes on Friday night. The home-side without Kylian Mbappe, through illness , fell behind in the first half when Jonathan David netted his eighth of the campaign. Lionel Messi who was doubtful before the match because of a muscular problem was withdrawn at the interval. Meanwhile after the break, the hosts leveled the score through Marquinhos before Angel Di Maria scored a late winner to take all three points.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action early on as Burak Yılmaz tested him from inside the box. Yilmaz was causing all sorts of problems for the PSG defence down the right side and he set up David for the opening goal on 31 minutes. Yilmaz cleverly beat Thilo Kehrer down the left side of the penalty area before providing the cut back for David to tuck in from close range. It was a deserving goal for the visitors as they were clearly the better side in the opening half, which was end-to-end and entertaining.
Di Maria’s attempted close-range curler from the left side of the area wasn’t far away from goal. In the absence of Mbappe, Messi started at the centre with Neymar and Di Maria alongside him. However the 34-year-old Argentine legend was hardly involved in the game before he was substituted with Mauro Icardi before the second half got underway. Meanwhile, PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino later confirmed that his withdrawal was more of a precautionary measure.
“It was a precaution, and we hope he will be available for the game against Leipzig,” said Pochettino, referring to Wednesday’s Champions League Group A game.
After the break, Donnarumma denied David from close range before Yilmaz failed to convert David’s cut back from the rebound. At the other end, Di Maria’s long ranger was parried away by Lille goalkeeper Ivo Grbic. PSG were now playing with a bit more intent and their relentless pressure finally broke Lille defence as captain Marquinhos equalized in the 74th minute.
Di Maria provided the assist from the left side of the box for the Brazilian to volley in from close range. Few moments later, Icardi should have taken the lead after being released on goal by Neymar, but the Argentine striker was denied by a superb stop from Ivo Grbic. However, PSG took the lead with just two minutes remaining through arguably their best outfield player of the night, Di Maria.
The Argentine played a one-two with Neymar before slotting the ball in from inside the box with a precise and low left-footed curler. Di Maria’s winner helped PSG to go 10 points clear of their closest rivals Lens in the Ligue 1 points table. Meanwhile champions Lille are placed 11th with 15 points from 12 games.
PSG will next face RB Leipzig in the Champions League Group A encounter on Thursday before playing Bordeaux in the league fixture on Sunday.
